From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

So This is Christmas

Josh Lanyon

Start date: December 30, 2016

Finish date: January 30, 2017

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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Book of the Month Club

* Candidates for Next Month's Read
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What Members Thought

Jan 21, 2017 Ije the Devourer of Books rated it it was amazing

This is such a lovely story and a big must for fans of Adrien and Jake.

It is so satisfying to see the two men as a committed couple and to have a glimpse of what this means for their families and for their friends. Of course there is also a mystery for us to contend with.

Jake and Adrien are now together and it is the beginning of a whole new chapter in both their lives. They have moved into their new home together but they haven't yet unpacked everything and they need to get used to the give and ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2017 Meep rated it it was ok

Re-read after listening to the series. While remembering all I loved about the series I remain underwhelmed by this extra.

Hmm the characters lack their edge in this one, it's borderline smulchy Christmas fare. Jake without the burden of lies over him is a step too chill, Adrien appears to have lost his prickles.

There's too much weepy preforming sister Lauren - and I get that we're seeing her through Adrien's eyes but she's a total disaster area and claimed too much page time. Then there's a bla Re-read after listening to the series. While remembering all I loved about the series I remain underwhelmed by this extra.

Hmm the characters lack their edge in this one, it's borderline smulchy Christmas fare. Jake without the burden of lies over him is a step too chill, Adrien appears to have lost his prickles.

There's too much weepy preforming sister Lauren - and I get that we're seeing her through Adrien's eyes but she's a total disaster area and claimed too much page time. Then there's a bland little mystery that lacked urgency so seemed more a distraction. The glimpse of Jake's family that was interesting but didn't last long enough for me to determine number or names. Would have really liked to see more of the two of them interacting with family.

Kevin - I get who he is now; but still don't particularly recognise this version of him.
Guy - he simply appeared for roll-call

Everything is tied up neat. While I love the series and the complexity of Jake as a lead character here I kept thinking how easy he now had it! The truth will set you free! He gets a big flash house and new life set up before the ink has dried on his divorce papers. I couldn't help seeing Adrien as somewhat selfish too - Kate married for love and lost everything, which adds bitterness to all the fluff. Lanyon is good at adding those layers but her I think here it warred with the easy fluff of the rest. Yes, I really want them to have their HEA, but was too aware of the victim of it. This isn't long after the reveal, after the coming together openly - the end scene therefore fell flat for me, I couldn't quite parse it. The sex in this book more technical than previous and seemed to be there to make a point.

I'll come back to the series again but probably forget this addition and leave them walk into the sunset after the last novel.

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I'm going to have to re-read the series, because I remember it with affection but didn't enjoy this extra. It's been too long, I had only a vague idea who certain important characters were and the familiar ones didn't endear me. Found it difficult to keep a clear impression of what stage of their relationship Adrien and Jake were at, and wasn't fully supporting them. ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2017 Lenore rated it it was ok

Shelves: m-m, 2017, mystery, holiday, short, indie

2.5 stars.

(view spoiler)["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]> ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2016 Bibliophile rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads, comfort-re-reads, m-m, best-of-2016

Squee! ::Happy Dance::

That was my reaction when I learned that Josh Lanyon was going to write a follow-up novella to one of my favorites series.

I won't spoil it (because soooo much happens in this story!) but if you're a fan of this series, you'll love every page of it.

Easily in my top-three Christmas novellas this year.

...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 07, 2017 Dana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m

It's Josh Lanyon, it's Adrien with an E, and it's Jake. I don't think it's possible for me to give it less than 5 stars. This book takes place maybe about 6 months after The Dark Tide, so it's not as if we're looking at the couple years down the line from the other books. The mystery in this book was intriguing and solved with a satisfying ending. There seems to be a lingering guilt on Jake's part over his treatment of Adrien and it's going to take a bit of faith in each other for them to move p ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 03, 2017 Pete W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So... This is the long awaited book by many of the Adrien English series fans. MS. Lanyon sure seems energized by the time away from the series, as this one was not only the triumph return to the series but expand upon it with new theme as well.

We got the main plot right away with an old friend basically running into Adrien's arms. The *friend* was a character from (view spoiler) It took me a while to remember who he ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2016 Allison rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, 2016-reads, audio, 2019

The book is good, it certainly ends with all the best yummy feels. It was wonderful to see Jake fully accept himself, and to see Adrien get off his high horse, and for their relationship to be complete.

The audio? Not so much. I think I hadn't bought it because I'd heard so so reviews of it originally, but I just re-listened to the entire original series and jumped on the wagon. While I understand that the original narrator, who is wonderful, couldn't do this book, this narrator should have made ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2017 motty rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Dear Josh, thank you for writing this. What a precious gift to your fans. I read and absorbed this in one sitting, and after finishing it I'm just left wanting even more. You do realise that fans like me will never ever get tired of Adrien and Jake and will forever pester you with questions of 'so, when are you writing the next AE book'?

The last scene... (view spoiler) ...more

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Dec 31, 2016 Carey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m-romance, short, christmas

This is what I've been waiting for :) ...more

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Jan 03, 2017 Susana rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Back early from their Christmas holidays in England, Adrien has to face an employee crisis at Cloak and Dagger while trying to adjust to his new relationship with Jake. The sudden appearance of an old acquaintance with a mystery to investigate only makes things more difficult for an already stressed Adrien…
I love Adrien and Jake. So much. They were the first M/M couple I cared for, and I got emotionally invested in their relationship. Although the Christmas Codas Josh gave us were nice, I had b ...more

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Jan 05, 2017 Laurel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, m-m-mystery

I am completely amazed that an author can step away from characters for seven years, and start back as if no time has passed. Jake and Adrien are still very much them. However, they are changing and acclimating to their new relationship. The past is not forgotten, but it is forgiven, and the ways in which they are moving forward are so very real and touching.

Returning from London early from the family holiday, Kevin (remember the hottie archeologist?) seeks Adrien's help in finding his missing b ...more

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Jan 19, 2017 Lakerkat rated it it was amazing

This is just the best damn book! I got the happy times I wanted with Adrien and Jake without over the top sweetness, drama with Natalie and mystery with Kevin and Ivor. I also enjoyed getting a peek at Jake's family. Perfect. ...more

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